Dedicated to “Bharat” and “Dharma”

The Param Vir Chakra is awarded for most conspicuous bravery or some daring or pre-eminent act of valour or self sacrifice, in the presence of the enemy, whether on land, at sea, or in the air. The decoration may be awarded posthumously.

*** Saluting our Heores – Major R Parameshwaran, PVC ***

This is my humble tribute to Major R Parameshwaran, a Param Veer who sacrificed his life on this date, 23 years ago.

Late October 1987, somewhere in northern Sri Lanka: “Operation Pawan” – the campaign in Jaffna that began with LTTE firing at Indian Patrols and killing 4 CRPF Jawans and five unarmed para commandos – is finally winding down. The IPKF have prevailed in spite of the intense and vicious opposition from the Tigers. Although the town has now been secured, operations are continuing against the LTTE cadres. Jaffna Fort is still under LTTE control and casaualties continue to mount with every passing day.

To compound IPKF’s problems, it is becoming impossible to distinguish between the guerillas and civilians. IPKF commanders are worried by increasing instances of surprise attacks by the Tigers in which they open fire on IPKF units and merge back into the civilian population.Sepoy Govindan, Madras Regiment, says

It was impossible to say who was a Tiger and who was not. Everyone male or female above the age of 10, could be armed and dangerous. We saw little girls producing guns from under their frocks and shooting at us. How do you fight them?

In deployment since August, the men of 8 Mahar have been facing some of the toughest resistance from LTTE cadres in the last few weeks. It is late into the night of 25th November, 1987. Major Parameswaran is returning back to the camp with his column after a search operation.

Unbeknownst to them, their path leads straight to an LTTE ambush. As the column of 8 Mahar finds itself trapped, their commander Major Parameshwaran exhibits remarkable presence of mind and exemplary courage.

He encircles the Tigers from the rear and boldly charges at them. The LTTE cadres are taken completely by surprise. In the hand-to-hand combat that follows, Major Paramehwaran is shot in the chest.

Undaunted by his serious injury, he snatches a rifle from a LTTE cadre, shoots him dead and although critically wounded, continues to give orders, inspiring his command to fight. He kills 2 more LTTE cadres before breathing his last. Hours later, the ambush is finally cleared, leaving in its wake five dead LTTE cadres and Major Parameshwaran. The men of 8 Mahar also seize a cache of arms, including three rifles & two rocket launchers.

CITATION

Major Ramaswamy Parameswaran, 8 MAHAR (IC-32907)

On 25 November 1987, when Major Ramaswamy Parameswaran was returning from search operation in Sri Lanka, late at night, his column was ambushed by a group of militants. With cool presence of mind, he encircled the militants from the rear and charged into them, taking them completely surprise. During the hand-to-hand combat, a militant shot him in the chest. Undaunted, Major Parameswaran snatched the rifle from the militant and shot him dead. Gravely wounded, he continued to give orders and inspired his command till he breathed his last. Five militants were killed and three rifles and two rocket launchers were recovered and the ambush was cleared .

Major Ramaswamy Parameswaran displayed the most conspicuous gallantry and thought nothing of dying at his post.

As you go about your day today, please spare a moment to remember our heroes..and please share this story of extraordinary courage and valour with your friends and family.

Thank you Shantanu ji for this series. It has been truly illuminating to know about our martyrs.

A totally mismanaged venture- IPKS, that cost us so many brave lives and here we are, as a nation, cornered by the machinations of China – using Sri Lanka- to choke India from the Southern side.

We must remember those brave souls who laid down their lives for the country, governed by a bunch of goons.

Hoping that their supreme sacrifice does not go in vain.

Comment by Smriti | November 26, 2010

sir,words are not enough to express my feelings to the heroes of the nation.what we civilians contribute to nation is all god knows,and half of the population is being fed with out work by cast and creed.what could be said about the major and his bravery is there is no words.if his kin is safe and sound that is what all we wish today after 23 long years. i humbley request todays youth to look at persons like major r.paramaswaran.a hero areal hero.
my sincere thanks to him and his family to give a chance to live in peace to me and to the nation as a whole with their lives while continue to live in peace and live.
srinivasarao.kothapalli
psychologist.
ongole.
india.

Comment by srinivasarao | December 1, 2010

also sir i can remember in india today mag and even today i can remember r.paramaswaran.brave they are and brave they should be.this is my glories movement to share my feelings to the nation and i feel honored.thanking to those who gave this opertunity and again stressing the need for the youth to take inspiration from heroes .ramaswamy paramaswaran.again my salutations to have given a free world to live in at the cost of their lives.
srinivasarao.kothapalli
psychologist,
ongole,india.

Comment by srinivasarao | December 1, 2010

Smrit and Srinivas-ji: Thank you for your words of encouragement…We have to make our children and the young ones in the family and amongst friends aware of these heroes and their sacrifices…
The series is almost complete save for a post on the Kargil Heroes…Once that is done, I am hoping to bring this out as a booklet for distribution amongst students and in schools…Please watch this space.
Jai Hind, Jai Bharat!